The Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra and the Yemel Philharmonic Society present Korea Fantasy — a joint concert in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Korea’s liberation. The special joint concert takes place on November 15.
This evening’s collaboration is dedicated to the historic significance of the nation’s liberation, and is steeped in themes of freedom and hope.
The Performers
The Korean Canadian Symphony was founded in 1987 to serve as a cultural bridge between Korean and Canadian musicians in Toronto, and is an integral part of Korean-Canadian immigrant history. Many former members of KCSO performed as prominent musicians all over the world. The organization was relaunched in 2019 with two new mandates. They include serving as a platform for professional musicians within the Korean-Canadian community, and to create networking opportunities for its members. Some exceptional amateur musicians are occasionally accepted by audition.
Sharon Lee serves as their music director.
The Yemel Philharmonic Society was founded in 1998 as a mixed voice community choir. The not-for-profit organization presents one to three concerts each year, and supports young artists through a variety of programs. The choir has developed a reputation for the quality of their performances, and their repertoire includes vocal transcriptions of orchestral works such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and other symphonic pieces.
Jennifer Min-Young Lee is their music director.
Both ensembles were founded by Conductor Seungsoon Kim in order to enrich Korean musical culture in Toronto.
The Program
The program underscores the evening’s themes, and the celebration of Korea’s liberation. It includes:
- Missing Geumgangsan, one of Korea’s most beloved art songs, arranged by Seungsoon Kim;
- Two premieres that celebrate the 80th anniversary of liberation: When That Day Comes by Yemel’s composer-in-residence Jenny Jihye Jeong, and Echoes of Arirang from the newly released debut album by Toronto-based cellist Daniel Hamin Go;
- Excerpts from cantatas by leading contemporary Korean composers Hyo-Won Woo and Byung Hee Oh, honouring Korea’s Liberation Day and the March 1st Movement;
- Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and Finlandia by Jean Sibelius;
- Korea Fantasy, presented in tribute to the 60th anniversary of the passing of Ahn Eak-tae, Korea’s most renowned 20th-century composer and the creator of the Korean national anthem.
Korea Fantasy is one of the earliest expressions of Korean nationalism in symphonic music, scored for orchestra and choir. The work ends with the choir’s repetition of the word “manse,” meaning “to live for ten thousand years”. Maestro Ahn studied music in the United States in 1935 during the Japanese occupation of his homeland, which lasted from 1910 until 1945.
Conductors Sharon Lee and Jennifer Min-Young Lee lead the joint concert.
- Korea Fantasy takes place on November 15 at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Find concert details and tickets [HERE].
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